Puckett's Pond
Fansided

Baseball America Top 100: 6 Minnesota Twins prospects that can make an impact in 2020

By Chris Schad

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Alex Kirilloff #19 of the Minnesota Twins and the U.S. Team bats in the second inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Alex Kirilloff #19 of the Minnesota Twins and the U.S. Team bats in the second inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 22: Royce Lewis #75 of the Minnesota Twins poses for a portrait during Minnesota Twins Photo Day on February 22, 2019 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 22: Royce Lewis #75 of the Minnesota Twins poses for a portrait during Minnesota Twins Photo Day on February 22, 2019 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Royce Lewis

Age: 20
Position: SS/OF
Level: Double-A
2019 Stats: .236/.290/.371, 12 HR, 49 RBI, 26 2B, 4 3B, 22 SB
Baseball America Ranking: 26th

At this time last year, Lewis wasn’t just one of the top prospects in the game, he was a top 10 prospect and former No. 1 overall pick that looked to be skyrocketing toward Minnesota. Fast forward to today and many have questions about Lewis’ ability to hit at the major league level and wonder if he’ll be shifted to the outfield with the rise of Jorge Polanco.

Lewis’ 2019 wasn’t the way that anybody thought it would play out. After suffering an oblique injury in the early weeks of spring training, his season got off to a slow start and was noted more for a push-up incident on a ball he thought should have left the yard. Once old man baseball rules were enforced, Lewis couldn’t really get going until July, when he hit .266/.330/.457 with 4 HR, 12 RBI and earned a promotion from High-A Fort Myers to Double-A Pensacola.

Lewis didn’t perform well with the Blue Wahoos, but his optimism for this season came with an MVP performance in the Arizona Fall League (.353/.411/.565, 3 HR, 20 RBI) where he tore the cover off the ball for Salt Lake.

As a solid defender that can play multiple positions, the biggest question will be if Lewis’ fall league performance was an indicator of things to come at the plate. If they are, Lewis could be an enticing trade chip or push Jorge Polanco, who was one of the league’s worst defensive shortstops last season.

Home/Minnesota Twins News